Optimizing exercise interventions for motor skills enhancement in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: Evidence...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Pediatrics
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder impacting motor skills.
• Children and adolescents with ADHD often exhibit deficits in gross and fine motor abilities.
• Optimizing physical exercise interventions requires understanding influencing factors and dose-response relationships.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effects of physical exercises on gross and fine motor skills in children and adolescents with ADHD.
• To explore factors influencing exercise effectiveness, including dose-response relationships.
• To provide evidence-based recommendations for exercise parameters in ADHD management.

Main Methods:

• A meta-analysis of 21 studies involving 850 participants with ADHD.
• Three-level random-effects modeling to estimate effect sizes (Hedge's g).
• Subgroup analyses and restricted cubic splines to identify moderators and dose-response curves.

Main Results:

• Physical exercise demonstrated moderate positive effects on gross motor skills (g=0.62) and fine motor skills (g=0.72).
• Significant improvements were noted across various motor subcomponents, including locomotion, coordination, dexterity, and handwriting.
• Longer session durations (>45 min) and higher frequencies (≥3 sessions/week) correlated with greater motor skill improvements.

Conclusions:

• Physical exercise is an effective intervention for enhancing motor skills in pediatric ADHD populations.
• Intervention effectiveness is moderated by specific motor subcomponents and exercise dose parameters.
• Tailored exercise programs targeting specific motor skills and optimal dose parameters are recommended for clinical and educational settings.